Sozo Coffeehouse — Restaurant in Omaha

My sister worked here until yesterday. This place is run out of a Christian ministry (Great Adventure Ministry), which you wouldn't know by just visiting the website or the coffee shop itself. The employees are also instructed not to play Christian music and not to discuss the ministry during their shift.

Now, in and of itself, a ministry or nonprofit coffee shop is not a bad thing, although IMHO it should be very clear to customers so they know what they are choosing to support. However, the management of this shop are additionally deceiving many of their customers into making "donations" to them, and in turn they are stealing wages from their employees, who make less than minimum wage after factoring in a weekly unpaid mandatory meeting. There is a tip jar (clearly labeled as a tip jar - pic attached) on the counter, but the baristas are not permitted to keep any tips - they are taken by management as "donations" to the ministry. Yes, this is illegal - tips are the property of employees regardless of whether they make 2.13 an hour or minimum wage.

I am encouraging my sister to make a complaint with the Nebraska Department of Labor for wage theft and violation of the FLSA and applicable state wage and hour laws if her stolen wages are not in her last paycheck within the next two weeks. I am posting this review in hopes that all past and current barista employees do the same. Christians have to follow the same laws as everyone else - also, pretty sure the Bible says a thing or two about not stealing and paying your laborers the amounts they are owed.

Note that my sister met with the owner, Chad Michaels Peterson, after her last day to discuss this with him. He tried to tell my sister that actually she gets paid 2.13 an hour and the tips add up to about $9.00 an hour. This is not what other management has told her, and furthermore, they do not provide any of their employees pay stubs so that employees can verify the amount of tips or deductions, which is another violation of state law. If she were getting paid tips through her paycheck, there would also be a variation between paychecks, so frankly, Mr. Peterson's explanation smells like utter BS.

TL;DR: This place treats their employees and customers unethically and should be avoided until and unless they make things right with all their employees...

In October 2020 i called regarding renting a space in the coffee house. Wanting to have a party for my daughters 20th bday... They helped me choose a room to suit my needs... Offered an incredible price... Unbelievable bargain... For sure one of the best deals in town... I've been trying to let many others know. They allowed me to bring in food cake water bottles.. Small appliances etc. It was so easy online also... So easy to navigate once they helped me over the phone... They told me exactly what to do to secure time and room. The staff, every one of them, were so friendly down to earth And helpful. Never annoyed! And i ask a lot of questions!! 😁

Once the evening came i was so thrilled with the room.. Outlets, space.. Cozy couches chairs lamps... Felt like a living room.. Painted cool designs on brick wall.. Just perfect... There was a Man who worked there who helped me so much.. Getting me a big table for my food and a tablecloth... He got me a three pronged extension chord because i didn't bring appropriate extensions 🙄 I was able to get more chairs for room as needed. They supplied me a pitcher of cold water for my guests!! I was blown away. I am so thankful and grateful to them.. Many of my guests couldnt believe the facility and the cool room and the PRICE!! After we left they put away everything and cleaned the room for me. Definitely suggest this for many many Occasions!!!!!! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

An EXTREMELY happy guest,...

Rented the back room for a baby shower. It was awful! When we arrived no one knew we had reserved the room…..extra confusing when trying to set up early. And when we got there the room was soo filthy! That we had to clean before the party. When we asked for a garbage bag for the room the worker said “didn’t you bring supplies?” Well no we didn’t know we needed to bring garbage bags. So rude! Left over food, popped balloons and dirt all over the floor from something previous, and the tables had visible dirt. This is a baby shower there are children running around in this filth. I grabbed a broom to start sweeping up and swept up a LIVE cockroach! Disgusting! Then no one told us we couldn’t put a table a cross a sliding door in the room and the staff had to come through the room several times that morning ….with attitude saying we aren’t supposed to put tables there anyway. Just plain rude. Almost all the women’s bathrooms were out of order. And there was no toilet paper in any working stall. I will never be back. Especially not for a baby shower. Very...